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Gangable chargerGangable charger description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060208697, Gangable charger. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to chargers for rechargeable battery packs, and more specifically to a charger capable of being coupled together with other like chargers to form a multi-battery charger. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Portable devices, like mobile telephones and two-way radios, rely upon rechargeable battery packs for their portability. For example, the rechargeable battery pack allows the policeman on the beat to stay in direct communication with the precinct at all times. Without such a portable, rechargeable battery pack, the policeman may only be able to communicate with the precinct while in a vehicle. Such limited communication could put the officer's safety at risk. In short, rechargeable batteries save lives. [0003] Rechargeable batteries must, of course, be recharged to stay operational. There are many ways to do this. One may simply connect a power supply (by way of a wire and device specific connector) to an electronic device that includes an internal charger. Alternatively, one may decouple the battery pack from the host device, and charge it separately. [0004] One of the most popular ways to charge batteries is with a desktop charger. A desktop charger is typically a device that includes a pocket into which either an electronic device with a battery pack coupled thereto or a stand alone battery pack may be placed. To recharge the battery, one simply inserts either the battery pack or host device into the pocket and the charging process begins. Annunciator devices, like text screens or lights, may update the user with the status of charge. [0005] A problem with prior art chargers is that they come in two forms: the single unit charger and the multi-unit charger. The single unit charger has a single pocket into which one device may be inserted. The multi-unit charger typically has five to six pockets and is capable of charging as many devices simultaneously. [0006] The problem with this single-unit/multi-unit dichotomy is that one is never certain how many devices will need to be charged at any one time. For instance, the precinct manager of the police department may have many devices to be charged. If the number of devices is for example 11, and multi-unit chargers accommodate 5 chargers each, the manager must either buy two multi-unit chargers and a single charger, or he must buy three multi-unit chargers. If he does the former, there is no room (unused pockets) for expansion of the fleet. If he does the latter, the third multi-unit charger has four open pockets that simply take up space on the desktop. [0007] There is thus a need for a battery charger that accommodates varying battery fleet sizes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a top, left, front perspective view of a charger in accordance with the invention. [0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a top, right, front perspective view of a charger in accordance with the invention. [0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of chargers coupled together in accordance with the invention. [0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a pair of chargers coupled together in accordance with the invention. [0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a cut-away view of a mechanical shroud and mechanical shroud recess coupling together in accordance with the invention. [0013] FIG. 6 illustrates an electrical connector having snap-in contacts in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on." [0015] This invention is a charger capable of being both mechanically and electrically coupled together to similar chargers. Each charger has at least one pocket, and an effective multi-unit charger of at least n-pockets may be created by "ganging" n chargers together. Further, chargers in accordance with the invention are not only capable of coupling together, but are additionally capable of passing the rigorous "drop tests", while ganged, required by OEM manufacturers. [0016] In one preferred embodiment, a charger includes a pocket for receiving either a stand alone rechargeable battery pack or an electronic device coupled to a rechargeable battery pack. The pocket includes electrical contacts capable of supplying voltage and current from the charger to the battery pack. The charger may additionally include electronic circuitry that identifies the battery pack and/or ramps, steps, tapers or otherwise modulates voltage or current to properly charge the battery pack. [0017] Manufacturers and marketers of electronic devices impose rigorous drop testing to all products sold. This drop testing ensures that your new $500 mobile phone will keep working after you inadvertently drop it in the parking lot. Drop testing requirements demand that an electronic device survive a finite number of drops, at a specified height, to a surface like carpet, wood or concrete. Experimental results with the present invention have shown that ten such chargers, coupled together, can withstand at least three drops at any angle from one meter to a wooden surface. [0018] To survive such a rigorous drop test, a charger in accordance with the invention includes several mechanical mating features. Each of these features work together as a team to keep the charger gang together and functioning properly after being dropped. Each mechanical feature will be described in detail in the discussion of each of the following figures. [0019] Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated therein are a top, front, left perspective view and a top, front, right perspective view, respectively, of a charger 100 in accordance with the invention. The charger 100 includes an exterior housing, which may be manufactured from a durable plastic such as ABS, polycarbonate or polycarbonate-ABS by way of an injection molding process. The exterior housing may include an upper exterior housing 103 and a base 104, which join together to house the charger's inner components. [0020] The charger 100 includes at least one pocket 101 capable of accommodating any of a stand alone rechargeable battery pack, an electronic device having a battery pack coupled thereto, or an electrical connector that couples to a battery pack. The pocket 100 includes electrical contacts 102 capable of supplying voltage or current to the rechargeable battery pack. The electrical contacts 102 may be coupled to charging circuitry disposed within the charger 100. Continue reading about Gangable charger... Full patent description for Gangable charger Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gangable charger patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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